OPEI's Kiser emphasizes importance of equipment dealersThe Green Industry & Equipment Expo in Louisville, Ky., this year will offer a special seminar for equipment dealers to help them face the challenges confronting them. Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, said dealers are important for the industry. "If we can help dealers be more profitable, the entire industry benefits. I encourage dealers to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their strategies and offer their techs additional training and industry awareness," Kiser said. GreenIndustryPros.com
(2/14)

Crafting Your Company's StoryCall it an elevator pitch or your company's story. However you describe it, being able to quickly summarize your business can help you engage with customers, partners and investors. Click here to read Boomtown: Think Like a Startup

Industry Buzz

Scotts to introduce fragrant animal repellents for gardenersScotts Miracle-Gro plans to begin advertising its new line of fragrant animal repellents made from essential oils in May. The repellents will be sold under the Ortho brand and are expected to replace putrid products such as animal urine or old eggs to keep animals away from plants. Scotts started work on the product last year after learning that one-third of those people who have gardens give up because animals destroy or devour their plants. The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
(2/14)

When Colin Evans of New Zealand outfitted a Murray Sentinel riding mower with a 3.5-liter V-8 engine, he showed off his engineering prowess -- and created a mower that can get the job done in a flash. Evans needed to extend the mower chassis to accommodate the engine. It took almost a year to finish the work.Stuff (New Zealand)
(2/15)

A massive snowblower known as the TV 2000 helps remove snow from runways at Oslo Airport in Norway and keep flight schedules on time, according to this article. The equipment weighs 40 tons and can remove snow from a nearly 2-mile-long runway in 15 minutes. "It pushes the snow with a plow, it sweeps the runway and it blows the snow to the side," said Henning Bratebeck, the airport's head of services.CNN
(2/15)

Crowdfunding becomes option for small-business loansWhile many traditional lending sources remain tightfisted, small businesses are finding an alternative in crowdfunding. This article looks at SoMoLend and how it is navigating the legislative and market environment to help small businesses get capital. Some banks have climbed onboard. KeyBank says it will lend $1 million to $50 million using SoMoLend. Forbes
(2/13)

Inside & Out

How collaboration can improve your businessIt's no secret that your company can operate more effectively when the sales and marketing departments are working together, but that isn't the only sort of collaboration you should try to encourage. For example, your company will also benefit if your sales-training team interacts with the marketing department, allowing the sales-training group to gather customer insights to share with the sales team. HeinzMarketing.com
(2/13)

Diversion

Want to find love on the job? Try these careersWho knew love was in the air in the financial services industry? Or that a tech job could be the road to romance? A new study from CareerBuilder found that those two careers, along with jobs in the fields of hospitality, health care, and professional and business services were the top five fields for office romances. BusinessNewsDaily.com
(2/13)

OPEI News

Outdoor Power Report -- A quarterly update for OPEI membersOPEI's quarterly summary of issues and activities is now available. Read the report.